IN PICTURES: A look at how the assassination attempt on Trump at Pennsylvania rally unfolded

By Riya Peter
Published on : 02:37 PST, Jul 14, 2024

Donald Trump immediately left the Pennsylvania rally after gunshots were fired at him (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Trump rally shooting: How failed ‘assassination attempt’ on ex-POTUS unfolded

Donald Trump was injured in a possible assassination attempt during his Pennsylvania rally on July 13, 2024 (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Donald Trump's campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, July 13, turned chaotic after a gunman fired shots at the former president. The Secret Service agents immediately surrounded Trump, who ducked to the ground after covering his ears following multiple gunshots. A Secret Service sniper fatally shot the suspect, a 20-year-old man from Pennsylvania, and the former president, whose face had blood, was instantly rushed off the stage to his motorcade. The FBI started an investigation, considering the event an assassination attempt. Moments from the rally showed the dramatic turn of events at the venue that followed the gunshot.

1. Donald Trump covers his ear after gunshot

Donald Trump quickly covered his right ear after the gunshot (MSNBC screenshot/YouTube)

Five minutes into Trump's speech criticizing President Joe Biden, a gunshot rang out, prompting the former president to abruptly halt his address. It was followed by a series of gunshots, causing Trump to cover his right ear immediately. The attack injured the upper side of his ear, which was evident from the blood on his face while he was rushed offstage by Secret Service agents.

2. Trump crouched on the ground, surrounded by Secret Service agents

Secret Service tend to republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump onstage after he was grazed by a bullet at a rally on July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania. Butler county district attorney Richard Goldinger said the shooter is dead after injuring former President Trump, killing one audience member and injuring another in the shooting. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) — Donald Trump squatted onto the ground after a series of gun fires (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

The Republican presumptive nominee crouched to the ground amid the continuing gunshots that erupted the crowd into a frenzy. The Secret Service agents attempted to safely shift a wounded Trump from the stage to his motorcade.

3. Secret Service agents swarm Trump

BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 13: Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump is whisked away by Secret Service after shots rang out at a campaign rally at Butler Farm Show Inc. on July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania. Trump slumped and injuries were visible to the side of his head. Butler County district attorney Richard Goldinger said the shooter and one audience member are dead and another was injured. (Photo by Jeff Swensen/Getty Images) — Secret Service agents immediately came for Donald Trump's protection after a gunman fired shots (Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)

Videos from the event depicted the panic that rushed through each person witnessing an assassination attempt against Trump. The Secret Service agents were swift to swarm the former president, who ducked his head following the gunshots. They surrounded him, obstructing any possible view of him to the shooter, who was shortly killed on the spot.

4. Trump raises his fist to a raucous crowd

BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 13: Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is rushed offstage during a rally on July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania. Butler County district attorney Richard Goldinger said the shooter is dead after injuring former U.S. President Donald Trump, killing one audience member and injuring another in the shooting. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) — Donald Trump raised his fists into the air after an assassination attempt at the Pennsylvania rally (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Coming face to face with death did not quell the politician in Trump. As the Secret Service lifted him off the ground, the MAGA spearhead raised his fist to the raucous crowd and chanted, "Fight! Fight! Fight!" The right side of his face had blood, indicating a wound from the gunshot.

5. Snipers on alert after gunshot injures Trump

Snipers immediately surrounded the rally stage, where the Secret Service remained covering Trump, who was crouched on the ground. With loaded arms, the snipers were alert, looking for the shooter. Immediately after knowing the shooter was down, the former president, who looked disheveled, was lifted off.

6. Trump rushed off stage

Several Secret Service agents completely covered Trump while helping him exit the stage in a hurry, moments after the assassination attempt. Completely surrounded by them, the ex-president stepped down as the crowd chanted "USA! USA! USA!"

7. Blood on Trump's ear

Images from the event showed the blood on Trump's face was from a wound on his right ear. The real estate mogul later said in a Truth Social post that the gunshot pierced the upper side of his right ear. "I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound and shots and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!" Trump added.

8. Trump rushed to his motorcade

BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 13: Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump pumps his fist as he is rushed offstage during a rally on July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania. Butler County district attorney Richard Goldinger said the shooter is dead after injuring former U.S. President Donald Trump, killing one audience member and injuring another in the shooting. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) — Donald Trump entered the car after a series of gunshots (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Secret Service hurried Trump to his motorcade parked close to the rally stage. Stepping into his car, the former president again reassured his supporters, raising his fist.

9. Attendees scatter after gunshots fired at Trump

BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 13: Attendees scatter after gunfire rang out during a campaign rally for Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump at Butler Farm Show Inc. on July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania. Trump slumped before being whisked away by Secret Service with injuries visible to the side of his head. Butler County district attorney Richard Goldinger said the shooter and one audience member are dead and another was injured. (Photo by Jeff Swensen/Getty Images) — Attendees scatter after panic-filled moments at Donald Trump's rally (Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)

Trump's supporters scattered at the venue, panicking after gunfire rang out at the rally venue in Butler County. An attendee was killed, and two were seriously injured. A witness, Ben Macer, recounted seeing the shooter on the roof of a nearby building. "When I turned around to go back to where I was, it was when the gunshots started, and then it was just chaos, and we all came running away, and that was that," the attendee said to CBS News.

10. Deserted rally venue

BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 13: Campaign signs and empty water bottles are seen on the ground of a campaign rally for Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump on July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania. According to Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger, the suspected gunman is dead after injuring former President Trump, killing one audience member and injuring at least one other. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) — The rally venue in Butler County was deserted following the assassination attempt on Donald Trump (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

An empty rally venue in Butler County portrayed the chaos that erupted minutes into Trump's speech. Campaign signs and empty water bottles were seen on the ground after the former president was rushed away from the scene. The supporters gathered also deserted the venue after the unexpected turn of events.

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